THE CONDITION OF THE MAORIS IN THE KING COUNTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10412, 9 April 1897, Page 3

THE CONDITION OF THE MAORIS IN THE KING COUNTRY.

xn lULi IVUAI7 iivsuuxxvi. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—l have been nil over tho King Country during the last three months, and find the natives in a miserable condition morally. I have seen many Blacks' camps in the back blacks of Australia, bat uothing more degraded thau I have met with up this way. I really feel that the Maori was in ii better state in Captain Cook's time. By his intercourse with Europeans he has learned all the vices of the worst side of human nature, aud [ at least fail to see auy virtues. The liquor traffic, 1 think, is a great curse, and packhorses can be met carrying cases of the best " brands " out to the pas, where tho young see the condition of affairs and are taught to participate in the evils going on. I think I am right in stating that a wholesale liquor trade is going on all through this country, and the natives themselves retail it out to whites and Maoris. If this is un ' example of prohibition, it is a decided failure. If the people who go iu For making • men good hy Act of Parliament would use their splendid energy, and turn earnest workers in the field, uud teach these people the way of salvation, and live the life before them to prove that they really trusted God, I am convinced that great results would accrue from the undertaking. Every European in the King Country agrees that the ilaories are a perfectly Christless people, and this is my owu experience alio. I feel sure that there are many who would sacrifice much if they knew the actual condition of these people. Auyone who believes, anrl has learned, that the kingdom of Christ is at baud, and refuses to help a people in titter durkuess who are their neighbours, cannot really believe the gospel. It is wonderful how some will try to evade the truth, because ii costs money, how many worship the gold instead ot Gljd, aud how many are prepared to turn their back upon all for Christ's sake. These are the people who can be used to help the Maories. Surely there are such. The Maori states that he has had enough, of profession, and very likely this is true. I said before that the Maori did not understand the plan of salvation, but I can prove it more and more as I move among them, And nobody who knows the Maori about these parts would attempt to deny this statement. It is a fact and cannot be denied truthfully. Personally I am prepared to do my own share, and lam already at work. What I desire is' that people will see that the King Maoris are as Christless as an ox. I will leave the matter open to all, so that they shall not be ignorant of it, and I have faith that reapers will be sent into the field. lam set for the spreading of the Word of Christ amongst the Maories, and who can say that I do not hold my commission ? Te Awainutu was not central enough. This is the reason I did uot remain there. Igo now to Kawhia, where I propose to remain for the winter months. Anyone wishing to communicate can find me there, if the Lord so wills.—l am, etc., W. Gokdon Kjelly. Tβ Kuiti, King Country, April 5,189 J.